By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis – Secretary of State Matt Blunt says improving Missouri's transportation system will be a constant focus of his administration as governor.
Blunt is running for the office as the presumed Republican nominee. He says a top priority will be to stop transportation funds from being diverted to other state agencies.
Blunt says he'll also add two members to the state transportation commission to represent river and air transit. Blunt says large drops in traffic at Lambert Airport speak to that need.
"State government needs to be a partner in ensuring Lambert Airport becomes a more vibrant center of air transit, and I think having somebody that represented the air transit and mass transit communities on the commission would help to do that very thing," Blunt said.
Blunt says he'll also strengthen the governor's authority over the Department of Transportation by appointing the agency's director.